EA Carbon Markets Forum a pivotal gathering to advance sustainable development

The East Africa Carbon Markets Forum underscored the importance of collaboration, transparency, inclusion of local communities as a key stakeholder, and investment in climate finance to unlock opportunities for carbon markets in the region.

An annual two-day event that brings together key stakeholders in the region’s carbon market ecosystem, the Forum serves as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and actionable discussions aimed at advancing sustainable development goals through carbon markets initiatives. 

Held in Kampala across 8-9 May, this year’s Forum featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops focused on regulatory frameworks, climate finance, investment strategies, and regional cooperation. It helps foster partnerships between local and global stakeholders to drive climate action and economic growth.

“Uganda is embracing nature-based solutions like afforestation and agro-forestry, working closely with partners to scale up efforts,” said Margaret Athieno Mwebesa, Uganda’s Commissioner, Climate Change and UNFCCC National Focal Point, on the opening day. “Uganda is committed to regional collaboration, regulatory reform, and empowering communities especially the youth as key players in climate action.” 

Finding financing

The Commissioner highlighted new Climate Change Mechanisms Regulations 2025 as a significant step towards unlocking sustainable financing opportunities and promoting impact investing. She reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to a strong regulatory framework and financing mechanisms for carbon markets, with plans to launch a National Climate Fund focused on unlocking investment for green growth. 

Most notably on Day One, aBi Finance CEO Mona Muguma Ssebuliba highlighted that although Africa has a high potential for carbon projects, especially in agriculture, many projects remain stalled due to lack of funding that should be unlocked. Partnering with aggregators and financial institutions that provide lines of credit to address liquidity issues faced by agri-based businesses, aBi Finance has adopted a blended approach inclusive of investment in education and training. 

Other insights from the first day included how Africa’s agricultural future depends on integrated solutions and how connecting food systems with climate resilience and community well-being can unlock a ‘triple win’ for people and the planet. 

Trees for the Future CEO Tim McLellan said when farmers lead, everyone shall benefit because credible carbon projects begin and stay with farmers, backed by transparency and local capacity building to ensure real impact and investor confidence. Riccardo Ridolfi, co-founder of Equatorial Power, said carbon development projects should aim to enable real impact in people’s lives; nobody cares about solar power on its own, what matters is what they can do with the electricity. 

Alex Rumanyika emphasised the importance of community resilience, and resolving fundamental community challenges, as a prerequisite to meaningful discussions on sustainability and tackling climate resilience. Tom Sengalama of the UNDP opined that communities should be consulted, not just included. In contrast, Igor Silberud stressed the importance of balancing capitalism with social impact concerns.

Building stakeholder trust and collaboration

“Africa is rich in climate assets, but poor in climate returns,” said the Honourable Dr Monica Musenero Masanza, Uganda’s Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, during her keynote to open day 2. “The world has never done anything about climate change without the economy in mind. Why should Africa?”

Dr Musenero described the multi-faceted nature of the climate economy, warning that without a system that rewards carbon responsibility with economic opportunity, Africa risks becoming a compliant but impoverished continent. Her Ministry has a mandate to create an ecosystem to facilitate access to knowledge and innovation and technologies for mitigation and adaptation efforts in the climate economy. 

I opened the Day 2 session I chaired with a quote, “We do not inherit earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children”. Kenneth Muhangi, Chair of the Carbon Markets Association of Uganda (CMAU), highlighted the importance of the newly passed regulations, noting policy and regulatory frameworks are vital to build credibility and trust in the market and that we must ensure inclusion of other stakeholders, such as smallholder farmers. Forum co-organiser Anete Garoza shared the CMAU vision to “close gaps between developers, policy makers, youth, media, and communities and unite them all for a sustainable carbon future.”

A panel on energy transition, chaired by Sunday Ndamugoba of Rive & Co, highlighted the need for social environmental safeguards including community consultations, with benefit sharing and a robust grievance mechanism, and to build stakeholder trust using transparency. Where there is no evidence of engagement and local support, even technically sound projects may face scrutiny or rejection.

Other key insights from the second day included Derick Senyonga of the Ministry of Water and Environment underscoring the local community as an important stakeholder, and Michael Nimoh highlighting the benefits of associations like CMAU and Uganda Climate Network through collective action. Shaban Senyange, one of Africa’s top young conservation leaders, highlighted Kiira Motors’ efforts to combat the transport sector’s CO₂ emissions via electric buses and vehicles. Donee Alexander suggested the use of digital MRV tools to replace outdated methodologies and enhance credibility of reported results from carbon projects.

Final thoughts

The Forum, which will return next year on 14-15 May 2026 in Kampala, continues to serve as a pivotal gathering for stakeholders committed to climate change mechanisms through carbon markets initiatives under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as operationalised by indigenous regulations.

Across the two days, industry leaders, policy makers and climate change experts engaged in insightful conversations on climate finance, the regulatory landscape, institutional capacity building and provision of solutions for the provision of high-quality carbon credits in the voluntary and compliance carbon markets.

As East Africa continues to navigate the evolving carbon markets landscape, the insights and partnerships forged at the Forum will play a crucial role in shaping future policies and innovations. Moving forward, all stakeholders must build on these discussions to drive impactful change, ensuring carbon markets contribute meaningfully to environmental conservation and economic resilience.